UFC Legend Anderson Silva is in hot water once again over a failed drug test, the promotion announced Friday. That leaves UFC Shanghai without a main event.
Friday afternoon, the UFC’s week went from bad (Conor McGregor getting into an in-cage altercation at Bellator 187 in Dublin) to worse. Anderson Silva, the promotion announced, had been flagged for a potential anti-doping violation by USADA. The potential infraction means Silva is out of his main event fight in Shanghai against Kelvin Gastelum later this month. Worse still, the forty-two year old Silva could now see his career come to an end with a lengthy suspension.
Per the UFC’s release on Friday,
The UFC organization was notified today that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Anderson Silva of a potential Anti-Doping Policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected on October 26, 2017. As a result, Silva has been provisionally suspended by USADA. Due to the proximity of Silva’s upcoming scheduled bout at UFC Fight Night, Shanghai, China on November 25, 2017 against Kelvin Gastelum, Silva has been removed from the card and UFC is currently seeking a replacement.
USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, will handle the results management and appropriate adjudication of this case involving Silva. Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, there is a full and fair legal process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time as the process moves forward.
It remains to be seen who will replace Silva. In the meantime, the middleweight legend is looking at a lengthy suspension as a repeat offender. Following UFC 183 in 2015, Silva tested positive for a number of banned substances, including anabolic steroids, which resulted in a one-year suspension. That suspension fell under the jurisdiction of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but will likely play a factor here as the legal process plays out.
UFC Shanghai, also known as UFC Fight Night 122, takes place November 25, 2017 in Shanghai, China. The card marks the UFC’s debut in mainland China.
